Answer to Question #212270 in English for Charly

Question

Small things by Nthikeng Mohlele

1. Explain the narrative perspective in the novel.

2. Explain how the narrative perspective influences the way in which we as readers see the characters

3. Consider how the theme of love is explored through narrative perspective and characterisation.

Answer 1

1.A narrative perspective is the way a character perceptions ,values and opinions affect the story .The narrative is about the story of an outsider who is raised by Catholics ,until he is expelled and taken in by Bra Todd ,a jazz musician in Sophiatown .The outsider finds a work as a journalist and later is arrested for 18 years by the apartheid regime .He continues through is life unable and often unwilling to find his a place in the world. He remains obsessed with his childhood sweetheart and takes a refuge in a new mistress.

2.The authors use variety of narrative modes or perspectives ,to build tension in their works .Each narrative perspectives each mode tells a story in unique way like in the novel the Desiree is not satisfied with the life he is living since he was expelled from and taken to be journalist later jailed for years makes him to depressed and unsatisfied with the life as his desires has not come true yet. .uniqueness of the novel provides reader with more or less insight in the reasoning behind the characters 'actions.

3.Internal conflict rises from the beginning of the novel in chapter one as the narrator speaks of being in love .He battles with internal feelings of loving the postmasters daughter Desiree as he as never exchanged much words with her. The Desiree yet he felt hopeless with love with her from the day he laid his eyes on her ,he says he caught her roving eyes during the morning mass leading him not to loose concentration in mass. The narrator is devastated by the fact the schools are going to be closed only for two weeks and this will not give enough time to him to adore his Desiree.